The highlight of the updated Challenger lineup is the ferocious Hellcat, which is a raw, unadulterated ass-kicker

By Graeme Fletcher

Originally published: July 22, 2014

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PORTLAND, ORE. — When the Dodge Challenger was reincarnated in 2008, it was fashioned after the classic 1970 model bearing its name. For 2015, Dodge has refreshed the range and used the 1971 edition as its inspiration. The changes are subtle — new front and rear fascias that feature the ’71’s split grille and tail lights, but nothing too dramatic. This is not to say the changes are not for the better. Everything takes an enormous step in the right direction.

As before, there are scads of variations. The lineup starts with the Challenger SXT ($28,995) and moves up through the SXT Plus ($32,995), R/T ($36,995), Scat Pack ($45,995), SRT 392 ($51,995) and on to the range-topping SRT Hellcat, which is priced at $63,995.

2015 Dodge ChallengerGraeme Fletcher, Driving

All models benefit from a vastly improved interior. The soft-touch crash pad is fashioned after the ’71 car and has but two controls on it (lights and trunk release). Everything else is found on the steering wheel or on the centre stack, which is dominated by Dodge’s Uconnect system and its 8.4-inch touchscreen. It looks after everything from the phone and audio functions to a number of apps that allow the driver to tap into previously unavailable information — in the Hellcat it includes a set-up screen that allows the driver to pick the drive mode (Normal, Sport and Track, along with a custom mode). The latter allows the engine/transmission and suspension to be set in street or sport. There is even a screen that shows what the engine is doing in terms of power output and on it goes.

The SXT models feature the company’s 305-horsepower, 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 married to an eight-speed manumatic. It delivers a 12% improvement in fuel economy versus the outgoing model. The R/T gets a 375-hp 5.7L V8, while the Scat and SRT 392 feature a new 6.4L V8 that twists out 485 hp. The V8s are offered with said manumatic or a six-speed manual gearbox.

2015 Dodge ChallengerGraeme Fletcher, Driving

The Challenger SRT Hellcat is the hellion of the bunch. The numbers tell the story. The 6.2L supercharged V8 produces 707 horsepower. This brings an awesome power-to-weight ratio — each of the stampeding stallions only has to motivate 2.85 kilograms of Challenger. To put that into perspective, the BMW M235i and its turbocharged 3.0L inline six with 332 hp has to move 4.9 kg of car per horsepower. By any measure, the Hellcat is truly world-class.

But, it doesn’t stop there. At 1,200 rpm, the Hellcat is making 411 pound-feet of torque and on its way to a peak of 650 lb.-ft. This gives the Challenger tire-shredding performance across its entire operation range. The other numbers worthy of consideration has to do with the supercharger — it’s a 2.4L air engine that takes 80 hp to drive when it is making it peak 11.6-psi boost (go figure, in spite of the power loss, it still makes 707 hp!). To cool the air and engine, the front grille has a 50% larger opening than the other Challengers and there’s a functional hood scoop and vents. The intercooler is also different in that it uses a stand-alone cooling system to keep the intake air at a constant 15C.

2015 Dodge ChallengerGraeme Fletcher, Driving

On the test route, I dropped from fourth to third gear at 120 kilometres an hour to pass a slower moving car. Tromping on the gas saw the Hellcat light up its rear tires as it romped past the slowpoke. As this was happening, the engine performance app was showing the engine was being force-fed its life-sustaining air at peak boost and producing 683 hp! It was right about the point my nerve gave out because of the acceleration rate at play — the lamp posts at the side of the road were beginning to resemble the slats of a picket fence. I have driven some fast cars, but in terms of raw, unadulterated, kick-ass performance, this thing is one of the fastest — Dodge says it takes but 3.6 seconds to run from rest to 100 kilometres an hour. It feels faster and so much stronger, especially through the mid-range.

One of the Hellcat’s neat features is the key. The black key limits engine output to around 500 hp, while the red key unleashes all 707 hp. Naturally, there is a valet mode that cuts the power even more and limits the engine to 4,000 rpm.

2015 Dodge ChallengerGraeme Fletcher, Driving

In terms of handling, all variations worked nicely. All the non-SRT models are now offered with the optional Super Track Pak, which drops the ride height by 12.7 millimetres and adds Bilstein shocks. Take it!

Again, it was the Hellcat that put the punctuation mark on things. Flogging around the Portland International Speedway with the ‘Cat’s adaptive suspension (also standard on the SRT 392) set in Track mode, it devoured corners with minimal body roll, controlled understeer and very good feedback from the steering. Mind you, at the apex it took a sensitive boot to pour on the power with the traction nanny turned off — it didn’t take much to get the back-end to go walkabout in spite of the P275/40R20 tires!

2015 Dodge ChallengerGraeme Fletcher, Driving

Perhaps more impressive was the brake performance. The Hellcat earns 15.4-inch, two-piece rotors with six piston Brembo front calipers. They scrubbed off speed very nicely — the instructor, who was riding shotgun, told me to “wait, wait, wait now brake hard, harder!” It was as though he had tossed an anchor out of the window. The impressive part was that it did this corner after corner and lap after lap without fading into oblivion. No, the SRT Hellcat is not a Porsche 911 GT3 in terms of its outright track ability, but it sure did a very credible impersonation of a car that was designed to be driven seriously hard around a racetrack.

With a base price of $63,995, the Hellcat costs roughly $4,000 less than the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with the Z51 3LT package and $33,000 less than Dodge’s own Viper. Finally, each of the aforementioned Corvette’s horsepower costs $146.95. Now, if you decide to go whole hog and pony up for a Porsche 911 GT3, it will cost a whopping $303.26 for each of its 475 hp. The Hellcat? Try $90.51 per stallion. The unspoken beauty is that, as the Challenger SRT Hellcat is a regular production model, its numbers will not be limited — Dodge figures it will sell in small numbers. Think again!